Mac Mini Released

[dicklacara]

Can I place the Mac mini to stand on its side.

Don't see why not. Looks like you could velcro mount it on the wall.

Someone suggested that Belden should make a cartoon character stand for the thing--

Guess you would call it "Sponge Mac Square Bob" or somesuch

 

[PickledSquirrel]

been thinking all night to come up with an excuse to get one of these things... Maybe for my mom??? Fortunately, my boyfriend just broke my walkman, so I might just have to get one of them gum-pack-pods....

-Squirrel

 

[Piarco]

As I've already got a very powerful shuttle PC and a powerbook I had zero need for a Mac Mini.

So I'm getting one anyway! The PC has long since (well, in the 3 months I've owned my first mac!) been relegated to games/downloading only, and the powerbook for absolutely everything else. But as the PB is primarily for work (allegedly) it'd be nice to have a mac to come home to. Doesn't need to be all that powerful as I do have the gaming beast, but the emphasis is on the multimedia capabilities.... which the Mac Mini fulfills.

So I'll be getting the higher spec'd Mac Mini (80GB and a faster processor for an extra £60?!?!?! Yes please!) with AE and BT. And the superdrive.
I'll be combining it with a Philips 17" Widescreen LCDTV which is very much in keeping with the Mac's design: Philips 17" Multimedia TFT and I think I'll ultimately use airtunes hooked up to my surround sound system.

Mac Mini as a second system? Hell, it's pushed my PC into that slot

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Looks nice.

Just a few negatives I see:

Edu discount only $20

Given the thin margins on the box, I was not assuming much of a discount.

Only 1 DIMM slot and I'm guessing it's laptop memory so expensive to get to 1GB RAM (and RAM must be installed by Apple authorized...). If it's regular memory, it's no problem.

This is a real bummer. Though it maybe be Apple's attempt at maintaining health margins. Though this may end up backfiring in the market place. IMHO Apple should have included at least 512mb RAM.

But all in all, looks pretty good.

Agreed, but the lack of Core Image support by the video card is disappointing given that Tiger is just around the corner.

 

[mpw]

First Impressions and Idle Thoughts

My first thought when I saw the new Mac mini was positive (although part of me regretted buying my iMac, but that soon went away).
This is surely going to sell by the bucket load to Mac users but I thing a lot of switchers will want the whole package and for that Apple need to ship a ‘budget’ 17” Cinema Display.
It looks like a great option for people who need to take large amounts of files etc about with them to clients etc and who presently use portable hard drives etc I can image some large companies where each new client taken on gets a dedicated Mac mini as a portable back-up to data on a server.

Personally I'll wait until Tigers installed before taking the leap and get the OS and iLife etc free for my iMac (obviously I'll then load Panther & iLife04 onto the mini to keep everything legit)

I like the idea touted a few pages back by another poster that the unit appears stackable. I wonder if Apple plan to expand the unit for different users like having the asteroid unit sit on top connected by a FW cable or possibly even the fabled iHome media center?

 

[SubGothius]

"Built in Speaker" - meaning one? - add another $100 on for a decent pair of speakers.
Power Button in the rear of the machine - why change now?

Because one rarely if ever needs to use the power button on a modern Mac -- indeed, Mac OS X is happier if ye never completely shut it down at all, just Logout and/or let it Sleep. Remember, this system is so stable, some ppl here are loath to apply the latest Software Update because it will break their months-long personal record for uptime-since-last-boot.

As for speakers, just as with keyboard, mouse and monitor, just run what ye brung. If ye don't have any of these from your old rig(s) lying around, then the Mac mini is not for you; the iMac G5 is for you. Even if ye do have a spare keyboard and mouse but no speakers, just plug the headphone-out into your stereo's Aux jack -- that's what I do (and the startup chime sounds grand, indeed ).

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

The world is full of negative things, and people. Please, help your self and concentrate on the positive. Your life will be so much more fulfilling.
If I told you it was free but you would have to travel to the store and pick it up! would you complain about the trip you would have to make. Free your mind and the rest will follow.

Frump.

Repeating yourself verbatim isn't cool. I understand where you are coming from. Some of us aren't negative, but OK with this new addition to the Mac family.

It does depart from what some of us are used to from Apple. Something that allows for easy memory upgrades by the end user. And when people look at this from a PC perspective it may pale a bit more than some of us would have hoped for.

Still cool. And I might have bought one 6 months ago, rather than an barely used eMac, since I already had everything else that Apple expects the user of the Mac mini to have, a keyboard/mouse and monitor.

 

[SubGothius]

I just noticed this. The mac mini has only two USB ports. If one is for the mouse and one is for the keyboard, then none are left for the other things. USB flash drives are gaining popularity, this might be an oversight on Apple's part.

First, the mouse usually daisy-chains to the keyboard; at least, that's the traditional Apple way. However, assuming some may be running their Mac mini with some cheap PC legacy keyboard that has no USB extension port, then you just get a cheap USB hub (tip: a self-powered hub is worthwhile ) and plug that into one of the mini's backplane ports.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

The Radeon 9200 may technically be faster on paper, but it can not run Core Image. The FX 5200 can, and is more feature rich, even though it is technically a slower card. It really makes you wonder why Apple would release a Mac that can't handle one of the major upgrades offered in Tiger?

Another case of you get what you pay for.

This is one aspect that puzzles me. I can't see why they took the route they did other than for design/heat possibilities. I don't know enough about component costs to say wether the 5200 could have fit cost wise.

My feeling is that with Tiger so close to release they should have made the Mac mini capable to take on the new OS. Otherwise they MAY have their newest customers disappointed in just a few months time. Unless the 9200 will be added by the time Tiger ships, which would be way cool.

 

[koonwong]

It's much cheaper than the iBook that I just bought.
Anyway this new cube looks good.

 

[SubGothius]

I tried configuring the mac mini with Airport Extreme, an 80 GB hd, and 512 mb ram, the price came out close to $950CDN, so it almost seems like its not a bargain afterall. What to do? The $499 is really just a gimmick to give you like almost the barest-boned computer as it possibly can...

And this is different from typical low-end PC marketing how? Not to mention, you're comparing your fully-optioned price in CDN$ to the MSRP base price in US$, which would be over CDN$600 at current exchange rates.

 

[retrospek]

I've bought one.

I've just given in and bought an iMac Mini.

This will be my first ever Mac. I currently use three Windows PC's at home and a Windows Laptop at work.

I don't think I shall stop using Windows - but it will be great to see what the Mac is really like - as I've wanted one for a while now.

I already have a spare 23inch LCD screen and USB hub so hopefully I should just be able to plug in the iMac Mini and it will work.

My only confusion is if I can use my Windows Keyboard with the Mac when I guess the keys are different.

My new toy has a ship date of 29th January (I'm in the UK)..

Mark

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Only thing I'm kinda bummed about is that it does not come with a mouse and keyboard. I know they probably did that to keep the price down, but I know some people who would look for anything to cut down a Mac and if I told them about this and that the keyboard/mouse were extra they be like, 'eh that's Apple for ya, trying to rip their customers off. Stupid Apple'. And yes they probably would say that But nonetheless, I like it; although I will wait until I see on at my local Apple Store to have an 'official' opinion on it

That may explain the price drop on the USB keyboard/mouse. Not that they were phasing out, but rather to make the "objections" a little less "stinging". And given that Apple's hopes are for those that already have most of what they need, it helped keep their cost down.

 

[Cybernanga]

I've just given in and bought an iMac Mini.

This will be my first ever Mac. I currently use three Windows PC's at home and a Windows Laptop at work.

I don't think I shall stop using Windows - but it will be great to see what the Mac is really like - as I've wanted one for a while now.

I already have a spare 23inch LCD screen and USB hub so hopefully I should just be able to plug in the iMac Mini and it will work.

My only confusion is if I can use my Windows Keyboard with the Mac when I guess the keys are different.

My new toy has a ship date of 29th January (I'm in the UK)..

Mark

The Keyboard should work just fine, it'll take you minute or two to get used to but it'll work.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

No wonder Apple was so upset about the Asteroid "Firewire Breakout Box" leak - anyone else notice the uncanny design resemblance to the new Mac mini?

The guys who found that design had not idea how big their scoop actually was - or why Apple was so jealously guarding that particular secret!

You raise another point I see with this new design, thanks to Apples website. And that is that the breakout box, or media centre, or even external HDD's may be able to stack and keep the "look". And provide additional revenue streams for Apple long term.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Amen brother...
After the success of the iPods, I think Windows users finally are ready to give Mac's a try.
The Mac Mini will be a hit!

Some of it will depend on how Apple handles repair issues on this one. I think a choice of a swap or sending in for repair would be best.

 

[SubGothius]

I've just given in and bought an iMac Mini.
This will be my first ever Mac. I currently use three Windows PC's at home and a Windows Laptop at work.
I don't think I shall stop using Windows - but it will be great to see what the Mac is really like - as I've wanted one for a while now.
I already have a spare 23inch LCD screen and USB hub so hopefully I should just be able to plug in the iMac Mini and it will work.
My only confusion is if I can use my Windows Keyboard with the Mac when I guess the keys are different.
My new toy has a ship date of 29th January (I'm in the UK).
Mark

A Mac "just works", so it will do fine with your existing monitor, keyboard, mouse and hub; consider getting a KVM (keyboard-video-mouse) switch, to share these between your Mac and Windows boxen. As for the modifier keys, only the labels are different on a couple; just remember that Control is the same, Alt=Option (easy enough), and Windows=Command (the cloverleaf symbol for Command vaguely resembles the Windows logo, so also easy enough to mind). Most basic keyboard shortcuts on the Mac use that Command key instead of Control (e.g. copy is Mac's Cmd-C, vs. Win's Ctrl-C ), which actually makes more such combos easier to hit with one hand, once you get used to the slight difference.

Don't be surprised when (not if) your "new toy" becomes your everyday workhorse, relegating those ol'Windows jalopies to "mere toy" status!

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

What is a PCI slot?

It is a standard used for expansion in Mac's and PC's. Though depending on ones needs that can be meet through USB or FW connectors IMO.

Your question is the reason that it is not needed for the market this is aimed at.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Damn... what is it with Apple ripping people off in Australia?

The Sydney Morning Herald have kindly posted a Reuters article and included the AUD conversions of the USD prices - they're so much different!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Technology/The-120-song-130-iPod/2005/01/12/1105423518180.html

For example, 499 USD converts to 654 AUD, but the Australian Apple Store is selling the 1.25GHz Mac Mini for $799; the 1.4GHz model is going for $949, which is vastly more than the USD/AUD conversion of $785. We're supposed to pay more for the 1.25GHz model than we should be for the 1.4GHz one? Wow, thanks, Apple! Does it really cost $150 more to send something to Australia?

The prices for the other products mentioned in the article (and, I assume, everything else Apple sells in Australia) aren't much better.

Is there any tariffs that may account for the difference? Otherwise it may be Apple hedging future price fluctuations. Or it could be added costs of support down there. To many questions that we may not know all the answers to.

 

[MacMiniOwner]

Theres alot of talk of using as a "Media Centre" how do people expect this to happen...so you can plug it in to your TV via the adaptor if you dont have DVI on your TV (which I dont), however when I have done this before with my ibook the image is not so good.

Once its plugged into you TV how do you control it? Can you get a remote with a track pad in or ball built in, will there be a piece of software to tie in all iLife apps (I'm thinkin M$ media centre here )

I'm just confused as what people define as Media Centre

 

[BWhaler]

My buddy bought 14--count em, 14--of them today. (He's not poor, obviously.) 3 for his house, 2 for his parents, the rest for work.

I think these are going to take off in a serious way, mainly because the Apple Haters are out in fierce numbers spitting ugly venom. The Apple Haters always come out when Apple has done something amazing that threatens them

It's about the same volume of hatred on Slash Dot right now as when the iPod was announced.

I hope that is a good sign.

 

[asphalt-proof]

I surfed around the net yesterday (mostly because MR was slammed... at first I thought it had gotten /.ed but it was just us freaks trying to talk about the great new products) Any the response on several tech sites was overwhelmingly positive. Lots of Linux and Windows users saying that they were going to pull the trigger. (Whether or not they do is another question.) Some moaned about the lack of a mic or the vid card and the do-it-yourselfers of course said that it was still cheaper to build their own with better specs. Obviously these are not Apple's target demos. Somebody pointed out that this was the cheapest .nix box out there. Good responses overall. The other great thing is that I picked up my morning paper and they had a blurb about the new macs on the front page (pointing to the business sections). This is going to be a great year for Apple.

 

[rog]

Let's see, it starts at $499, but you need to add $199 for 1 GB RAM from cheapest current vendor on ramseeker.com, $75 or so for a 120MB hard drive, which is still pretty small in this day and age, $75 for a keyboard and mouse, $250 for a bargain 17" LCD. So that's $1100 to make it usable and it still can't really run Tiger how it's supposed to run and it's using a single processor that was considered low end 2 years ago. It seems tempting at first, but overall an eMac or even an iMac 1.6 is probably a much better deal. Maybe this is Apple's intention, to get people in the store with the $500 lure, but get them to think through that they'd be much better off spending $1000 or more before they leave!

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Let's see, it starts at $499, but you need to add $199 for 1 GB RAM from cheapest current vendor on ramseeker.com, $75 or so for a 120MB hard drive, which is still pretty small in this day and age, $75 for a keyboard and mouse, $250 for a bargain 17" LCD. So that's $1100 to make it usable and it still can't really run Tiger how it's supposed to run and it's using a single processor that was considered low end 2 years ago. It seems tempting at first, but overall an eMac or even an iMac 1.6 is probably a much better deal. Maybe this is Apple's intention, to get people in the store with the $500 lure, but get them to think through that they'd be much better off spending $1000 or more before they leave!

For many users that this machine is aimed for don't need much more than the 40 or 80GB HDD. I have a 40gb HDD in my PB and it is OK for the DTP that I did. And When I did an external gave me the ability to partition and have a ready backup and space to spare for data.

 

[mcfudd]

Mac mini (a few thoughts)

First, just add an EyeTV 200 to this computer and you have your "tivo" or "home media hub" ready to go.

Second, in addition to the "switchers" Apple wants in the USA, EU, and Japan --- can you imagine how amazing the Mac mini is positioned to sell in emerging markets such as Latin America and China? There are so many levels this computer can be successful on it is truely amazing.

Third, Apple will very shortly have Mac minis available in stores that are already configured with the SuperDrive and internal bluetooth/airport extreme card. The same thing happened with the iMac G5.

Fourth, this computer will support all Tiger features. Come on. Cupertino knows the release is just months away.

--- which leads me to consider the possibilities of future releases of the Mac mini. Such as, eventual upgrade to G5, larger video ram, and so on. This bad-boy is here to stay. I expect Apple to sell tens of thousands of these things this year.

Fifth, the potential of using these things as servers is awesome. Just install OS X Server 10.3 and you are rocking. So cool.

Overall, I am hoping to see this computer help take Apple to levels not enjoied for many years. Just as fans of the Boston Red Sox had to wait patiently until this year to finally get another World Series title, I think the Apple faithful are finally poised for major payback to the windows ******s who have been predicting Apple's demise for the last decade.

Your thoughts??